In Search Of Ruritania
The life and times of Ivor Novello
AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES AND ONLINE
This is not a sentimental journey - more a fascinating insight into the life,
work and world of the late Ivor Novello
WELCOME
David Slattery- Christy
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The Post Card
"Heartwrenching...unsinkable!"
The Independent
"This is old Ireland, Milkwood style..."
Derby Telegraph
Images, reviews and cast details from
productions of  the stage plays listed.
Please click on the
Plays link in the
navigation bar to access these areas.
Nora Connelly as Bridie in the London production of
The Post Card
Lee Wolstenholme
as Ted in the
Buxton production
of Forever
Nineteen
Joanna Glover as Mildred and
Rachel Dickinson as Ameil in
the Manchester production of
Forever Nineteen
Tim Bohannon as Patrick and Julia Stubbs
as Mary in the Manchester production of
The Post Card
NOVELLO GALLERY
Selection of Novello's personal
photographs from
Glamorous Night (1935)
now permanently displayed in the West
End's new
Novello Theatre - These
photographs are also featured in the book
In Search Of Ruritania
Elisabeth Welch -
Glamorous Night (1935)

Mary Ellis as Militza and Ivor Novello as
Anthony in Glamorous Night (1935) Theatre
Royal, Drury Lane
PLAYS
FOREVER NINETEEN
AFTER THE TONE
Kristin Scott Thomas, Jeremy Northam, Alan Bates, Bob Balaban, Kelly MacDonald
and Dame Maggie Smith in Gosford Park
WELCOME
Counter
"High Class - students so at
ease with timeless tunes... "
(Robin Duke)
Link to musical productions...
Into The Woods, History of the
Musicals, The Boy Friend,
Fosse...
You need Java to see this applet.
BUY  NOW! - Tesco - Waterstones -  Amazon.com -  Barnes & Noble - Book Stores - BUY NOW!
Great research resource for plays
and playwrights and much
more....
New & Revised Edition
Now Available



Paperback £9.99 + pp
Hardback £14.99 + pp
Anything But
Merry!
The life and times of
Lily Elsie
AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES & ONLINE

A new book by David Slattery-Christy exploring the
life and times of the Edwardian actress Lily Elsie,
the star of Lehar's original West End production of
The Merry Widow in 1907.
"[A] biography which is the result of  extensive
research
... I found this an intriguing reappraisal of a
former theatre idol whom I had tended to dismiss..."
Tom Howard - Rogues & Vagabonds
"An absorbing and
thoroughly engaging
read, and a
must-own for fans of
Altman's film looking
to learn more about
Novello and his
work...
Excellent look at
both the man and
the legend of Ivor
Novello, with special
insights into the
filming of the late
Robert Altman's
brilliant film

"Gosford Park"

straight from the
film's Ivor Novello
consultant."
Tara O'Shea -
Chicago
"This new biography delves much deeper into
Novello’s life than its predecessors.  While this
may have alienated those who prefer to remember
Novello as fragrantly as his famous lilacs, I found
it to be well-researched and thought-provoking.  
Novello’s output is analysed in the cold light of a
new century, and within a theatrical context which is
markedly different to the one in which his shows
were first produced...

There are interesting accounts of interviews with
Olive Gilbert’s nieces, Mary Ellis, Gordon Duttson
(one of Novello’s partners who appeared in some of
his shows) and Nicholas Hassall.  The writer often
uses a compelling style - the description of his first
visit to Redroofs is akin to something out of
‘Rebecca’, and the tension is also built up during his
work in the archives of Drury Lane...  

What will disturb some Novello fans are the
sections which deal with his sexuality.  I found this
information an essential part in building up a
rounded picture of Novello as a human being...  

This revealing biography is a useful and well-
researched addition to other books on Ivor Novello:
one which is not afraid to cover all areas of his life."

David  Wheeler - The Gaiety Magazine
Discover the extraordinary life of one
of Edwardian England’s most

celebrated and revered musical
comedy stars, Lily Elsie.
From her childhood days in the music halls of
Salford and her rise to fame as the child
singing star “Little Elsie” (hailed by press and
public as “the infant Patti”, after the world
famous opera star Adelina Patti) to her arrival
in London as a young woman with an almost
reluctant desire to conquer
the West End stage, her ever-present mother
urging her to make the most of every
opportunity...
Click here to purchase
Paperback: £9.99 + pp
Hardback: £14.99 + pp
Paperback: £9.99 + pp
Hardback: £14.99 + pp
Guide To Mary Ellis Papers - 1897 - 2003 Billy Rose Theatre
Division, New York Library for the Performing Arts.
Includes Glamorous Night adaptation script and correspondence with
David Slattery-Christy
Selected links for research information
westenddatabase.com
Glamorous Night
Book & Music: Ivor Novello
Lyrics by : Christopher Hassall
Revised version by:
David Slattery-Christy
By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd
Film history, book recommendations and much more...
"David Slattery-Christy has researched his
work diligently. He tells Lily's story clearly
and dispassionately...his book is an
important contribution to our understanding
of Edwardes and the Gaiety Girls, one of
the most glittering periods of London's
theatre history."
Richard Anthony Baker - The Stage
"The characters around Elsie are capably
brought to life... a good, dramatic, read and
you will end up knowing Elsie by the end."
Rob Sedman - lily-elsie.com
Luton Girls Choir sing
Novello's
Someday My Heart
Will Awake
Click on image for link to YouTube

Manchester Evening News
Glamorous Night
"Strong... story of an English journalist who falls for a prima
donna with political ambitions. To add to the colourfulness,
she's a Carmen-like gypsy girl and a star of the State Opera
and the mistress of the King of Krasnia...
Sarah Potts
was outstanding in the central role of
Miltza..."
British Pathe News
- Gaiety Girls
Reunion, London
1947
Click Here!
The Merry Widow
Vienna Music
Click Here!

Present Company
reprised their successful
Buxton production at
Derby Playhouse of this
new adaptation of
Glamorous Night by
David Slattery-Christy
an award-winning writer
and  Novello Consultant
on the
OSCAR and
BAFTA winning film
Gosford Park.
Anything But Merry! The Life and Times of Lily Elsie - Buy Now!
Manchester Award for Drama
Forever Nineteen and Les Miserables 1992
From the Ivor Novello Consultant for Robert Altman's  
OSCAR and BAFTA winning film GOSFORD PARK
Mrs. Anthony Berry (Sonia) and David
Slattery-Christy, Bath 2009.
Sonia remembers Lily Elsie from
childhood. Elsie and her mother were
great friends.
Elsie's Cartier carriage clock featured on the Antiques Roadshow from Bath on 7th February 2010.
The clock was a gift to her from husband Ian Bullough. The hidden message in Latin, Tempus Fugit,  
translates as 'Time Flies' The message in other symbols translated as 'Love Remains'.
David Walters as Anthony
and Sarah Potts
as Militza in
Glamorous Night
Photo by Lee Stephens
2010
"Country tensions and
the love lives of those
in power. Think an
earlier twentieth
century Evita...
"
Derby Telegraph